Torpedo-firing control and signal apparatus for torpedo-boats.



4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented Apr. 10, 1917.`

E. G. GALLAGHEVR.

APPLICATION FILED EPT. I4, |915- TOPEDO FTRING CONTROL AND SIGNAL APPARATUS l'0R TORPEDO BOATS.

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@pimms W25 Ef G. GALLAGHER,

TORPEDO FIHING CONTROL AND STGNAL APPARATUS FOR TORPEDO BOATS.

APPLICATTON msu s:PT.14.1s5.

1,222, 198. Patented Apr. 10,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2..

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E. G. GALLAGHER. TOHPEDO FIRING CONTROL AND SIGNAL APPARATUS FUR TORPEDO BOATS.

- APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I4. 1915. 1,222, 198. Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEE 3.

N E; G; GALLAGHER. I TUHPEDO FIRING CUNTRUL AND SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR 'IORPEDO BOATSI APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I4. 1915.

Patent@ Apr. 10, 1917.

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llrllfllaln'" wwwa UNITED STATES' y rATENCr OFFICE.

EDWARO GERALD GALLAGHER, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAKE TORPEDO BOAT COMPANY OF MAINE, OF BBIDGEPO RT, CONNECTICUT, A B-,

PORATION OF MAINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

r atenten' Apr. 1o, 1917..

Application filed September 14, 1915. Serial No. 50,634.

To all whom 'it may concern 13e it known that l, EDWARD (lint-inn Gan i'..\on1-m, a citizen of the llnited States, re? siding at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certa in Vnew and useful `Inlprovcnients in Torpedo-Firing Control 'and Signal Ap paratus for 'ltn'pedoBoats, ot' which the ich lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an in'u'n'oveinent in torpedo firing control apparatus, and has lor its objectyto provide an apparatus operating in conjunction with the mechanism for opening the outboard covers of the tubes, and by which the admission of the tiring air to the tube is positively prevented until the outboard cover-of the tube has been opened far enough to give free exit to the torpedo when fired from the tube, and` in the e1nploylnent of a signal for inthe-ating' the open position of the said ontbmufd cover, the errangeinent being such that the Atiring ot' a torpedo may be controlled from any station within or upon a boat.

The invention comprises, in con'il'iination with a source of electrical energy, a switch o r contact which is normally held open and `closed only when the outllmard cover of the torpedo tube is in its extreme wide open position, or in such position as to give clearance to the torpedo when fired from the tulle; an electric lainp in the circuit which is lighted only when the circuit is completed (when the door is-wide open); a solenoid operated valve controlling the adn'iission of firing air to the firing valve, a switch or contact for closing the circuit which energizes the lsolenoid windings, and a central control switch for connecting and disconnecting the tiring and control systen'r from the source of electrical energy, the said central control switch providing a gap in the circuit,

making it possible to operate the tiring valve only when the gap is closed and when the other switches and contacts in the circuit are closed. cuit windings of the solenoid operated valve is obtained by such a disposition of the leads or connections that the solenoid windings are placed i'n parallel relation with the signal lamp, or in other words, across the torininals of the lamp, so that the solenoid 4windings receive their energy from the same source of energy as the signal lamp, the cir* "lhe energy t'or supplying thc circuit of the signal lamp being so arranged that it becomes complete and receives energy only when the switch or contact operated by.'A the opening of the outboard cover of the tube is closed.

The invention further consists in novel details of constriction and peculiar c0'lnbi nations and arraigcments of parts as will be hereinafter iully described and then claimed.

In the drawings, illnstuating the invention, in the several figures of which `like parts are similar y designated, Figure 1 is a. diagral'nn'iatic \iew illustrating the appli,- cat-ion of my iinention. Fig. 2 is a seo- ?.ional elevation oi a solenoid operatedl Valve, and thI` mechanism controlling the operation of the firing valve. Fig.4 3 is` a seetiona-lele- "f ration ofthe inns r end of the shaft for o J' erating the outboard `cover of the torpedo tube illustrating V;he manner of completing v the circuit of the signal or lamp when the outboard cover of the tube is Wide open. Fig. 4c is a front elevation of the casing con'.- taining the lamps or signals and the tir-ing" levers, the door on theA port sides of the cas B0 ing controlling.` access to the lever for the port being removed. Fig. 5 is a horizontal :il section ot' the sante drawn on the line aa-a of Fig. el. Fig. (3 is a vertical section of the same drawn on `the line b-Z of Fig. 4. Fig. 85 7 is a diagrannnaic view showing the loeal tion of the switcl. box 'relative to the peril scope of a sulnnarfne. Fig.` 8 is a side eleva-y tion ot' the same.

1, lifig. 1, designates a torpedo tube having;- an inboard cover il andan outboard cover; 3,- thc .latter being connected to a shaft. 4 *il through a link 5, and upon the shaft 4 is keyed a segmental worin wheel', which` is meshed by a worin 7 carried at the outer end 95' ot' a shaft 8, the i'mer end of said 'shaft being extended beyond the inboard end of the :"5' tube l', and provided with .a h'and Wheel. S),V

`thesel liartsbeing of the usual construction.

tacts 16 held Within the easing 14, and i l L f which contacts 1b are connected the posltu and negative wires 1'7 and 18, respectively, extending from a suitable source of energy 19, shown in Fig. 1 as a battery. A switoh 2() is interposed in the circuit wires 17 and 18, whereby the current tli rough the eirouit, between the contacts 16 and the battery 19, is controlled; and arranged in this circuit .is a signal lam 21 which is located in a switch casing, as wi l be hereinafter described. The head l5 is normally held out of engagement with the contacts 16 by means of a spring 22, as shown in Fig. 3. The nut 11 carrying the arm 12 is preferably formed in halves and bolted together so that the threads'of thel nut will be held in engagement with the threads 10 of the shaft 8 to be thus irioved along the shaft 8 when the latter is rotated, whereby to bring the arm 12 into engagement with the plunger 13; and, in order to prevent rotation of the-nut l1, l provide the saine with a stud bolt or pin 23, which operates in a slot 2l of a bar or arm 24 held at one end to a bracket 25 suitably mounted adjacent to the inner end of the torpedo tube 1, and ha ving its opposite end connected to a sleeve 2G mounted upon the shaft 8. By this arrangement7 when the shaft 8 is rotated to open the outboard cover 3 of the toi;- pedo tube 1, through the worm and worin segment, it will be appreciated that the nut 1 1 will-be fed forwardly along the shaft 8l sothat the arin12' will be brought into engagement with the plunger 1.3, to thus force the head of the plunger into engagement with the contacts 16, so that when the switch 20 is olosed, a eirouitvwill be formed andthe lanip 2l lighted, thus indicating to the operator that the outboardCover 3 ot' the torpedo tube has been widely opened, henneavoiding any danger, under ordina ry conditions,`of admitting the firingl air to the ton pedo tube. untilthe said outboard cover 3 has been fully opened.`

ln` order to avoid any possibility of the controlling air being'admitted to the. torpedo tube prior lo the-opening of tlieoiitQoard oovor thereof, lV employthe followiiigmiilrangement 'and whih. is located in tlie lamp circuit-` as l vwill now explain.

27 designates a. firing valve easing liavifp'ig ay balance valve. 28 operating therein ahd' controlling ythel admission ol air to thi` lorpedo tube, the. valvi` being normally held to its seal'. 29 by a4 spring $50, and by air pressure as `will hereinafter be explained. ln the rasing is'also a bark pressure valve Ill` nor- .niallly held to its seat :l2 bya spring ll. tlio i said-valve :il sci-ving toI prevent waler rcarli ing the -val vc`2`H`or entering (lic air lin'c from the air tanks (not shown) al'ter a torpedo haslieen fired. and water from thc surrounding? body of'wal er rushes into the tubes. lf\ir iin-der compaiatively low pressure is admittodito the. casing above the valve. 28 through a pipe 34 extending from a suitable sourre (not shown) of low ressure wir supply, and the air from the Sa-id3easing belov7 the valveA 28 is conducted to the inboard or breech end of the torpedo tube through a pipe' 35. The valve casing 27, between the valves 28 and 31, is provided with a vent 36 which serves to permit the escape of the compressed air in the event of leakage past the valve 28. The balance valve 28 is formed With a piston 37 having a vent 38 formed therein to permit the compressedv air to enter the valve'casing above the piston 37, which, with the spring 30, serves to hold the valve tightly to its seat, it being observed that the piston is of greater' area than the valve proper. The upper end of the valve casing 27 `is formed with an outlet or vent 39 to which is conlnected a pipe 40 having its opposite end connected to a cylinder 41, having a vent 42' leading` from its upper end. Operating in the cylinder 4l. is a piston 43, which in its normal position serves to close the vent and thus prevent the escape ot' the low pressure air from the upper end of the gasing 27. The rod 43 of the piston extends through the upper end of the cylinder 41 and through the upper end ot' a. cylinder 44, and has its lower end fixed to a piston 45 `operating in a cylinder 45', the cylinder 45 is provided With an inlet port 46 which is connected by a pipe 47 with a valve casing 48 to which is connected a pipe 49 extending from a source (not shown) of high pressure air supply. The valve 50 of the oasingis, als iisnal, arranged to be held to its seatby the pressure of the air from the high pressure source of supply, and this valve is lifted from its seat by a solenoid 51, the plunger or core ip'linvhich is connected to the valve in any7 suitable manner` and as I make no claim per ao to the valvc 50 or its casing, or to the opera-tion of thc valve. it is not thought neoessarv to dwell in detail upon this construction. l`lic solenoid 51 liasits windings (not shown) connected by circuit wires 53 and 53', one of which 53 is ronnc'cted to the negative circuit wire 17 upon one side of the lai`n`p 21, while the other wire 53 extends to onc terminal of a control switch 54 located a't an vconvenient place in or upon the boat, andv preferably in the lamp casing to be hereinafter described. andextending from the lllv this arrangement, it will bev and thc outer.l rover il of the torpedo tnbe v has been opcncd` a cireuit will be established From the battery, :nld tflhg liiinp 21 will be liglil'ial` and then when tlie switch 54 is lllii'own," llic solenoid w-ill bc energized and thc valve 5() thusy lifted from its seat, which will permit tlic high pressure air to instanlil I rush into tlienppcr end of the cylinder abovethe piston 45, to force the latter downwardly, which correspondingly moves the piston 43 in its cylinder to uncover the ort or vent 42 and thus vent the upper enr of the valve casing 27 above the piston 37, and the moment the up .er end of the valve casing 2( is vented an the air pressure against the upper end of the piston 37 is relieved, the pressure uponthe lower side of the piston being greater than that upon the top of the. valve proper, the valve will be lifted from its seat` so that the firing air may rush through the easing: past the valve 31 iiito the breech end of the tube, thus firing the starboard lilg'h-ts of a boat..

tor iedo.

he control switch 54 is preferably arranged within a casing 56, Figs. t and 6, in which casinor is also arranged the signal lanip 21. Il hile it is understood that my system is applicable to any number of forward and after torpedo tubes, I have illustrated the same in Fig. 1 as connected with only one tube, whereas in F '-l, 5, (i, 7 and 8, I have shown the casing adapted for use with two forward and two after tubes, and as the connections to the several Switches and signal lamps are identical, I shall' place the corresponding,Ir numerals upon the severaly parts throughout the said Figs. l, 5., (i, 7 and 8.

The casing 5G is preferably rectangular in sha pe, and is formed with openings 57, provided withwdoors 58 controlling access to the levers 59 of the switches 54, the purpose of the doors 58 being to prevent indiscriminate access and possible accidental operation of the switches .by a member of the crew other than the one in charge of the control station.

-In practice the bulb of each lamp 21,will be inclosed `in a metal sleeve (i carried by a plate (il. -ln the outer end of each sleeve (Klis arranged a glass closure (v2. which, in practice, will be colored red and green to correspond respectively with the port and The plates 61 are held in vrecesses (33 formed respectively in the front and rear Iside of the.`casing aiid'in which are arranged glass plates 64,` which `are held in position by frames (l having gaskets 66 of rubber or other suitable material interposed between them andthe easing, and the glass covering 64, whereby to seal the recesses airand water-tight. Thetulies 60 serve the purpose of preventing deflection of the light from one side of tliccasingrto the other, and thus. concentrate the light upon the colored `el'ass 62 ooi-,respending to the tube ot which theouter oever 3 has been opened, as will be best understoiul from the general description ot' the apy'iaratus.

W lion the system is installed upon a submarine boat,` I purpose arranging the casf k. ing 56 immm-liately adjacent-'to the` peri- 'scope or sighting tube 'I5 atv the firing con,

trol station, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8,vl`

and when installed upon a submarine boat having torpedo firingr tubes both inthe bow and the stern, I construct the casing so that access to, the lever (r levers controlling the firing of the after tu )es may be had froi'n'tliey back of the casing, and also arrange the signal lamps of the after tubes so that they may be visible only from the back of ther t.. casing, as illustrated in'Figs. 4 and 5, so,l

that when the sighting tube is rotated to view an object in tht stern of the boat, readyaccess to the firing levers of the after tubesA may be had by tle firing officer or at, 1.

tendant, thus enabl ng him to throw the switch or switches tie instant the command is given.

lIt willbe observed that the arrangement is such that the signal lamp is'in parallel trical energy. In other words, the circuit` of the signal lamp. S31 is in parallel relation l ,m

with the circuit between the source of electrical energy and tl ie contacts 15 and 16 at a point on the line between the switch 14 and the'control switzh 54, `and that the other terniinalbetween the aforesaid elements is in circuit across the re urn circuit, so that only, when the lamp` is energized (and of Coursen ico only when the switch 20 is closed), willitV be' possible to light the signal lamp 21, and

render it possible to complete the circuit between the Source of electrical energy and the solenoid windings when the switch (54)' at the control station isclosd. i

It will thus be seen that I not only p rovide an apparatus whereby the open position l, l. ,v

of the outboard eoverof the 'torpedo tube may be indicated to one in charge of the firing switch, but thatl also provide a. construction where-by the firing air to 'the toroiitlio'ard eovei` is wide open. i

The operationoi the invention is as follows pedoA tube may be admitted only when thel ,il

Then it is desired to adjust a tube ready for firing;r a torpedo therefrom, the switch 20V is first closed and ydie hand` wheel E): of the shaft 8, is then rotated to open the outboard" As the shaft s 'is roi cover El of the tubo. ta-ted, the nut 11 "vill be moved along;` the shaft, and the arm 12 carried bylthe n'ut l1' will be caused to engage the plunger -1-3 it'o'*y force the head of t1 ieplunger-tir engage tli #1-25 througflrthe wires 17 and 1S.-iausiiig"ftlie lamp 21 to be lighted, it beingunderstood that, a c-ireuitfism'e: .ted onlyV when their-uv itcli Milind the contacts 16. arc closed. The tube contact 16 to thus createan elect-rie circuitft i is then ready for fring, and in order to fire the torpedo, the switch 5l at the control station is thenLclosed, thus completing the circuit between the windings of the solenoid and the circuit in which the lamp is arranged, and between the source of electrical.

energy. The moment a circuit is made through the solenoid windings, the valve 50 will be raised from itev seat, to allow the high'pressure air to enter the upper end of the cylinder 45', toithiis release the piston 45, and thus draw or force the vpiston 43 downwardly in its cylinder to uncover the vent 42, so that the low pressure air inthe upper end of the valve casing 27 may escape and4 hence release tlie'pressure upon the top of the balance valve. The moment pressure upon the top ot' the balance valve is released, the pressure upon the lower side of the piston 37 will then move the balance valve from its seat, thus allowing the firing air to alitomatically unseat and to escape the said valve past the check valve 31, and pass outthrough the connection 35 into the breech end .of the torpedo tube. v

I make no claim 72er se in this application to the casing nor to the special construction of the switches, and desire it understood that I reserve the right to claim such.details in a separate application.-

That I claim is:- v

1, Torpedo firing control apparatus, comprising in combination with nieans'or operating the outboard cover of a torpedo tube and means to supply firing air to said tube, a Source of e ectrical energy, a. solenoid operated valve controlling the admission of firing air to the torpedo tube, the windings of the solenoid being in the circuit of the .source of electrical energy, a control switch arranged in the circuit, a signal lamp also arranged in the circuit iii parallel relation with the windings of the solenoid, and norinally open contacts in the circuit adapted to'be closed through and by the meansfor operating the outboard cover of the tube, for the purl'iosesspecified.

2. Torpedo firing control apparatus, coin- 'prising in combination with means for operating the outboard cover of a torpedo tube and means to supply firing air to said tube,

' a source. of electrical energy, a solenoid operated valve controlling `the admission of firing air to the torpedo tube, the windings of tlic solenoid being in the circi-iit of the source of electrical energy, a control switch arranged in the circuit, a signal lamp also arrangiid in tlic circuit, and normally open contacts in the circuit adapted to becloseirl throiigh and by the means for operating the :outboard cover of the tube, whereby toener-4 gize the signal lamp and render it possible f to. energize the windings of.the solenoid, for the pnrposesfspecicd.

3. Torpedoliring con` o l apparatus, coin-v ycirciiitvot the solenoid windings being in parallel relation with. the .signal lamp and across the terminals of the lamp whereby the windings receive energy from the Same source of energy as the signal lampe. i

4. Torpedo firing control apparatus,l comprising in combination with means'for operating the outboard cover of a 'torpedo tube and means to conduct firing air to the tube, a source of electrical energy, a vsolenoid operated valve vcontrolling the admission of Firing air to said torpedo tbe,'the windings of the solenoid being arranged inthe circuit of the source of electrical energy, normally open contacts also arranged in the circuit and adapted to be closed only when the outboard cover of thetorpedo tube is open, a lamp arranged in the ci-rciiit andadap'ted to be.A energized only when said contacts are closed,'and.a control switch also arranged in said circuit, the arrangement being such that the windingslof the solenoidmay be energized only when the signal la-mp is energized and the control switch is close .4

5. A signal device for torpedo V'firing tubes, comprising in combination with manually operated means -foi' operating the oi 1"t board cover of a torpedo tube, a source of electrical energy., normally open lcontacts arranged, in the circliitof the source of elecy.

,iedo tube isin.' its extreme o )en )ositio'n and when said (,:oiit'acts are closed, substantially-as specified.y

. Aj t Torpedo firing control apparatus for torpedo firing tubes, coinprising in coin'b'ination withmeans for operating the outboard cover of atorp'cilotube, a source-of electrical energy, normally open lcontacts" arranged in 'the circuit and adapted to' be closed by and-through"the outboard cover" `operatingnicans,'ii,s sl'iecificd, a signal lamp ptcd to be ciieif-y -gized only when the outboard'cover is iii its l arranged in the circuit ada extreme open'-positioiiaiid a' i'nanua'llydl'i ated switch controllingthei'riiig ofstlieto 7. Torpedo firing control apparatus, comprising in combination with means for operating the outboard cover of a torpedo tube, and valve controlled means to supply firing air to the tube, a Source of electrical energy, a solenoid in the circuit of the source of electrical energy for operating the valve controlling the admission of firing air to the tube, a signal lamp arranged in the circuit of the source` of electrical energy adapted to be energized only When the outboard cover of the torpedotube is in its extreme open position, and a control switch also arranged in the circuit, the arrangement being such as to prevent completion of th'e circuit to admit firing air to the tube until after the signal lamp is energized. 4

8. Torpedo firing control apparatus, comprising in combination with means for operating the outboard cover of a torpedo tube and means to supply air under pressure to Said tube, a source of electrical energy, a

solenoid operated valve controlling the ad-` mission of firing air to the torpedo tube, the

windings ofthe solenoid being in circuit with the`source of electrical energy, a control switch arrangel in the circuit, a'signal lamp arranged 1n the circuit 1n parallel relation with the windings of the solenoid, and normally open contacts in the circuit, a head adapted foi' engagement with said contacts, and an arm'carried by and operable through the o'itboard vcover operating means adapted for forcing the head into possible to energize the windings of the solenoid only when the lamp circuit is energized and when the control switch `is closed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2511i day of August, A. D. 1915.

` EDWARD GERALD entrenan.

Witnesses: y

liilmr B. B1 JILL, M. E. Hrrontocx., 

